by Kieron Kramer
At one point during the Rensselaer County Legislature’s presentation period on Tuesday evening Chairman of the Legislature Martin Reid of West Sand Lake said, “This was quite a winter, and it seems like we’ve lost an awful lot of friends.” The Legislature’s presentation period is an act of community where Rensselaer County citizens are recognized for their achievements, commended for selfless acts and memorialized for a life well spent. The Legislators make the presentations of the resolutions in memoriam to the loved ones of the departed. Most often the deceased and the family of the deceased are friends of the Legislators who share with the families, as the whole community does, in the grieving. Thus it was Tuesday, when seven families came to the well of the Legislature to receive copies of the resolutions, suitably engrossed.
Among the families of those memorialized were the loved ones of Richard von Schilgen of Berlin and Francis Grant, Sr. of Stephentown. District Five Legislators Stan Brownell and Lester Goodermote, who represent the towns of Stephentown, Berlin, Grafton, Petersburgh, Hoosick and the Village of Hoosick Falls, made the presentations to their friends and neighbors. Brownell made a great many heartfelt statements about von Schilgen and Grant, both of whom and their families, he had known for about 30 years, having met them when he worked at Curtis Lumber in Hoosick. Cyril Grant, Francis’ son, who is a Justice in Stephentown, Rensselaer County Fire Battalion 5-0 Commander and Buildings and Grounds Supervisor in the Berlin Central School District, meant so much to Brownell that he was asked to swear-in Brownell at the beginning of this term on January 1, and he conducted the marriage ceremony of Brownell and his wife Robin last July 4. In fact, Brownell was quite broken up, and, at the beginning of the presentation to the loved ones of Richard von Schilgen, he needed a supportive hug from Cheryl Thibodeau, Richard’s dear friend. Von Schilgen’s son, Peter, and brother, Chris, also attended the ceremony Tuesday.
Von Schilgen died at the Albany Medical Center on Thursday, March 24, after a short illness. His death, at the relatively young age of 57, shocked the Berlin community where he served on the Town Council and donated much effort over the years for the betterment of Berlin. About von Schilgen Brownell said, “His passion was the Town of Berlin. It’s an honor to have known Richard and his family.” Brownell said that von Schilgen wanted to bring a nurse practitioner to the Town of Berlin and added, “And we are going to work on that.”
Francis J. Grant, Sr. died on Monday, March 21, 2011. Active in his community, Frank Grant was a former constable for the Town of Stephentown,
a member of the Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department and a member of the Veterans of the Stephentown area. Francis’ wife Janice, his two sons, Francis J. Grant, Jr. and Cyril A. Grant and wife Mary, his brother-in-law, Ivan Wager, County Fire Coordinator, and a grandchild, Sarah A. Grant, attended the ceremony.
Brownell said about Francis Grant, Sr., “He was an unbelievable man. I’ll always remember his smiling face. He was particular about keeping his house clean, and he kept his car clean, too. These are the memories we will all keep in our hearts. I love you all.”
Resolution In Memoriam Of Fred Humphrey
The death of another respected citizen of the County, Fred A. Humphrey of Petersburgh, was memorialized by a resolution passed at Tuesday’s Legislative meeting. Fred Humphrey died on April 14, 2011. He was born in Troy, but he was a resident of Petersburgh for most of his life. He was the son of the late Floyd A. and Ruth Hakes Humphrey.
The resolution says, “It is customary for this Legislative Body to pay honor and respect to persons who have had a great impact and influence on the citizens of this County during their time on this earth; it is with particularly deep sadness that we conclude this evening’s deliberations in honor of a truly respected member of the community…it is the collective sense of this Legislature that the life of Fred A. Humphrey be memorialized and eulogized, for he was respected and admired by all who had the privilege to make his acquaintance and even more so by the many who could call him their friend.”
According to the resolution Humphrey was a graduate of Berlin Central High School and Hudson Valley Community College. He was employed by Winchester Rifle in Connecticut, Haynes Ford in Hoosick and the Watervliet Arsenal. He was also the Highway Superintendent for the Town of Petersburgh and a Traffic Control Supervisor for the Rensselaer County Highway Department, retiring in 1999 after 25 years of service. He was active in his community – a founding member and 30 year active member of the Petersburgh Rescue Squad, a 40 year member of the Petersburgh Volunteer Fire Department, a member of the NYS Association of Highway Superintendents and a member of the Petersburgh United Methodist Church. He also belonged to Sacred Heart Church in Berlin.
The resolution goes on to say, “Fred played in the Petersburgh Town Band, loved riding his motorcycle, working in the garden, landscaping, hunting, fishing and animals and…Fred A. Humphrey will be missed by his family: his loving wife Lenore, his children, Dr. Mark A. and wife Susan, Matthew T. and wife Donna, Luke A. and wife Helen, Lucinda. L. and husband Craig, Nicholas J. and wife Bonita, Melissa M. and husband James and Erika L. and husband Charles, his brother, F. Richard and wife Charlotte, nine grandchildren, a great-grandson; as well as his many friends and acquaintances…the Rensselaer County Legislature concludes its deliberations in memory of Fred A. Humphrey and extends its deepest sympathy to his family, fully confident that his contributions to his community will live on to serve as a legacy for all.”
The Clerk of the Legislature will transmit a copy of this resolution, suitably engrossed, to the family of Fred A. Humphrey.
Agencies Recognized For Their Heroic Efforts In Averting A Tragedy
This resolution recalled the events of Monday, March 28, when a tractor trailer hauling 10,000 gallons of propane rolled over and caught fire, causing the threat of a potential explosion on a smoky stretch of Route 7 in Hoosick. An evacuation order was in effect within a one mile radius, while the remaining contents burned off. This evacuation forced people from 100 homes and businesses, closed down a portion of Route 7, and power was shut off in that area.
The resolution says, “This incident was led by Incident Commander Chief Bill Rifenburgh from the Hoosick Fire Department and the following fire departments were also on scene: West Hoosick, Petersburgh, Pittstown, Hoags Corners, Melrose, Berlin, Poestenkill, South Schodack, Raymertown, Defreestville, Center Brunswick, Eagle Mills, Johnsonville, North Hoosick, Easton, Hancock, Coeymans Hollow, Selkirk, Shushan, Cambridge, Speigletown, Hoosic Valley, Lebanon, Schodack Landing, Schodack Valley, West Sand Lake and Clinton Heights…Along with Fire Departments, the following EMS and various other agencies were also at the scene: Town of Hoosick Rescue Squad, Mohawk Ambulance, Rensselaer County Sheriff, New York State Police, Hoosick Falls Police, NYS Environmental Conservation, NYS Office of Fire Prevention, Rensselaer County Public Safety and the NYS Department of Transportation…As well as the emergency crews who were at the scene, many residents worked together to provide food and shelter for members of their community that were evacuated from their homes…Due to the quick thinking endeavors of several emergency rescue crews a potential tragedy was averted and many lives were saved in Rensselaer County.”
The resolution goes on to say that all of the agencies involved are deserving of thanks and recognition by members of the Legislature and by the residents of Rensselaer County.
The Garfield-Nassau Road Bridge Over Black Brook
A project for County Route 26 (Garfield-Nassau Road), the Black Brook Bridge replacement, is eligible for Federal funding and the State Marchiselli Program calling for the apportionment of the costs to be borne at the ratio of 80 percent in Federal funds and 20 percent in non-Federal funds. A resolution passed Tuesday authorizes the expenditure of $192,900 to begin work on the bridge replacement. The bridge is in Stephentown near Tsatsawassa.
Scott Gallerie, Deputy County Engineer for Highway Operations, said in an interview after the meeting that even though the galvanized steel girders are hard to come by (and expensive) he believes the work on the Black Brook Bridge replacement will begin probably in July. He is hopeful that the project will be finished in September or October. In the meantime there will be a “very long” detour out Route 43 to Dunham Hollow Road. Gallerie believes that around 1,000 cars use the bridge on a daily basis.
Gallerie also mentioned that the County Highway Department, hired by the County Tax Department, has demolished the house at 16 Main Street in Berlin and is just waiting for the hauler to take away the remains. This building was an eyesore and considered dangerous by the Town of Berlin.
Truck Purchase
This resolution says, “The Highway Department requires replacement equipment in order to effectively maintain and improve the County highway system.” And so the County will purchase two trucks – an International chassis-cab Model 7600 6X4 with stainless steel sander for $236,052.60 and an International chassis-cab Model 7600 6X4 without sander for $212,363.20. These are the State bid prices. The trucks will be delivered through Delurey Sales & Service of North Hoosick.
Mortgage Tax Distribution
A resolution providing for the distribution of mortgage tax was passed at this session. The Rensselaer County Clerk has paid the Chief Fiscal Officer $1,669,896.14 which represents the local share of mortgage tax collection for the period October 1, 2010, to March 31, 2011. This is an increase of $350,286.65 from the same period last year. The sum is due and owing to the cities, towns and villages of Rensselaer County. Municipalities in eastern Rensselaer County will receive the following amounts:
current last year
Berlin $21,308.04 $8,825.70
Brunswick $209,621.97 $125,077.63
Grafton $28,674.50 $24,559.83
Hoosick $36,323.56 $35,190.20
Village of Hoosick Falls $7,505.27 $7,289.52
Nassau $40,960.14 $40,624.84
Village of Nassau $4,876.81 $4,433.10
Village of East Nassau $2,768.71 $2,764.12
Petersburgh $9,053.99 $5,908.21
Pittstown $54,484.70 $38,501.05
Poestenkill $65,218.25 $39,450.98
Sand Lake $141,419.00 $102,069.09
Stephentown $23,533.27 $15,364.88.